Duplicate-whist apparatus.



N6. 653,665. Patented July 17,1960. T. c. DE LEON.

DUPLICATE WHIST APPARATUS.

(Application filed Ap?. 16, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

{MUM} rlll) IIFEL lllllllllllllllll ,lll.

WITNESSES: A

xs mens co, PNoTo-L r Patented July I7, |900.

T. c. DE Laon.

DUPLICATE WHIST APPARATUS.

(Application led Apr. 16, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

FlG.

" ATTORNEY WITNESSES m: nofws vertus co. Pnuraumo.. wnmmon, u. c.

Nrran STATES .aTaN'r rares@ DU PLlCATE-WHIST APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,665, dated July 17, 1900. Application filed April-16, 1900. serial No. 13,069. (No man.)

To @ZZ whom it mctjl/ concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS COOPER DE LEON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Duplicate-Vhist Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the convenient and proper separation and distribution of decks of cards for Whist-playing, the said decks or packs being subdivided into four hands for the game known as duplicate Whist,77 the intention in the present instance being to provide a convenient apparatus for keeping the divided decks in their proper places, so that each hand comes before the players in turn and rotation, and means also for score-keeping in connection therewith and forduplicating the same. Y

My invention contemplates the employment of disks mounted on axes, each disk containing probably twelve hands of Whist-cards, said disks being made, preferably, of hard Wood about three sixteenths of an inch thick. These disks are provided with spaces, the spaces being separated by angular blocks of Wood constructed so as to be slightly higher than the packs of cards they are intended to separate, and the said blocks are provided with beveled edges on their exposed faces, as will be explained, to hold the cards firmlyin place; but in addition thereto I provide a spring-holder near the rear of the pack. I provide also means for holding the pack or deck near the edge of the disks. These disks are four in number and are mounted on axes provided with small cog-gearings, fixed to or integral therewith, and located between these cog-gearings and central thereof is the larger gearing, intermeshing therewith and operated by suitable means. Means also are provided for locking the disks in xed position after they have been shifted or moved to the desired point. A pointer is also provided, and a novel method of scoring forms a part of the apparatus.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved duplicate-Whist apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the disks. Fig. et is a sectional section of the hub and axle of the master cog- Y l Wheel.

In the dra-Wings, ct b c d are revoluble disks, and I have shown in Fig. 3 the detail plan View of such a disk. These disks are preferably made of thin wood, as before stated, and are arranged to hold and contain twelve hands of Whistcards.

e are angular blocks made slightly higher than the cards and are located so as to space the disks off in such a manner as to provide rectangular receptacles for the cards of the proper shape and dimensions. These blocks are provided with bevel-shaped edges, (see Figs. 4l and 2,) which beveled edges serve to hold and retain the hands in position. I also provide near the edge of the disk a fiat metal slidef, that is adapted to slide into the Wooden blocks e, aslot being provided therefor. These slides are numbered from l to 12, respectively, from left to right. As each slide is pressed in to release the hand of cards the thumb and tinger of the player draW the hand from the disk at the front. When this is done, the slide is shifted4 into the slot provided, and when the hand is returned to its place after having been played and counted the slide still remains concealed, thus leaving the particular hand unnumbered to indicate that it has been played. These disks et h c CZ revolve from right to left. Each disk is provided with cog-Wheels g, over which they tit and to which they are secured by means ot1 a square shoulder h. The cog- Wheels g are secured by and turn upon pins j. They intermesh with thc larger or master cog-Wheel 7a. This latter cog-Wheel revolves from left to right, being provided with and adapted to be turned by a pawl and ratchet Z m, that in operation will turn the disks a b c d one-twelfth around at each Working of the ratche'- The pawl is mounted on arm n, the latter, as Well as the ratchet m and the master cog-wheel 7o, turning loosely on the main centero. A spring p serves to keep the paWl in place, and a cord q, controlled by a return-spring r, provides means of operation. The disks are arranged in pairs, one pair over IOO the other, so that in rotating they will not come in contact with one another. For shuffling purposes the disks may be removed by lifting the top T of the table, and thus removing the disks from the attaching-axes. The disks and the cog-Wheels may be made of hard wood or metal, as may be preferred.

A deal-indicator s is shown in Figs. l and 2 and is in the form of an arrow orindeX-nger affixed in the center of the top of the table. lItis provided with an easy movement on its pivot t, which latter is provided with four rectangular arms radiating therefrom and close beneath the top T of the table. As the disk a revolves these arms are successively caught by the pins u and the arrow or indicator is given a quarter-revolution.

Score-counters are provided at r. They are small revolving cylinders of metal numbered from 1to 13 and are set opposite to line of figures from 1'to 12, running down the side, so as to provide means for scoring the opposed sides or partners. As the hand is played these figures are turned t0 the proper number of tricks and stand during the game. A second and small revolving marker is set close tothe right of the rst. This is to mark the gains of each hand on the duplicate plays.

The bottom w of the table proper, which holds the mechanism, rests upon a false bottom with a pivot O so arranged as to pervlock automatically at z.

mit it to revolve one-quarter of a circle and This serves to duplicate the hands according to the rules of the game.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A duplicate-whist apparatus hereinbefore described, consisting of four revoiuble disks mounted on standards as shown, and overlapping but not interfering with one another and provided with cog-wheels at the lower end of the pivots with a master cogwheel adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a duplicate-whist apparatus or table a series of four disks having receptacles for twelve hands of cards, means for retaining said hands in position, means for rotating the disks a quarter-revolution and means for holding the disks in proper place.

3. A duplicate-whist apparatus as hereinbefore described, a series of four disks provided with cog-wheels, a master cog-wheel for turning the same and an indicator adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

THOMAS COOPER DE LEON.

Vitnesses:

HERBERT KNIGHT, P. F. SONNEK. 

